Many Nepali migrant workers, who had come from India to celebrate the Dashain and Tihar festivals, have postponed their return to become temporary police personnel or Myadi Prahari for the upcoming elections.

 

The Myadi job opening has mostly attracted those people who work as daily wage workers in Indian cities. They were attracted by the pay the government is offering.  

 

Parbalal Bishwokarma of Khadachakra Rural Municipality-2, Kalikot, said he decided to stay longer this time because there was an opportunity for him to earn around Rs 50,000 in just 55 days, which is a lot compared to what he makes in India. “I have already passed the first test and I am confident that I will be selected,” he said.

 

Earlier, Parbalal used to leave for India after celebrating the festivals. He would remain there for about six months, working odd jobs to support his family back home, before returning for the winter crop harvest season.  

 

Parbalal said he had already left by this time last year. “Once you get back to India, if you do not have a fixed job, you have to search for one. So I decided to extend my stay this time because I could earn a lot more by becoming a Myadi,” he said.

 

Dhan Singh Bishwokarma, ward chairman of Khadachakra Rural Municipality-2, said many men from Kalikot, Jumla, Mugu and Bajura districts go to Indian cities to work because of limited opportunities in the country. “They only return for the harvest season and the festivals. This time, however, they have decided to stay a while longer to join Myadi. There are some who have extended their stay to vote, but most of them are here to become Myadi personnel,” he said. 

 

Besides migrant workers, many unemployed youths in the region, including young women, are also applying for the job. Police Inspector Niroj Chaulagain at the Kalikot District Police Office in Manma said young men, women, mothers have signed up to become Myadi personnel.

 

“We certainly have a considerable number of migrant workers applying for the job. This is also apparent because the vehicles leaving the district these days are not crowded with departing migrant workers as they used to be during this time,” he said. 

 

The government is recruiting 98,168 temporary police personnel for the federal and provincial elections scheduled to take place on November 26 and December 7.